Overview
- On July 13-14, 34 fishermen from South 24 Parganas set out on two trawlers, FB Jhor and FB Mongol Chandi 38, and drifted into Bangladeshi waters due to darkness and rough monsoon seas.
- The Bangladesh Navy intercepted their vessels near the Fairway Buoy about 77 nautical miles from Mongla Port and escorted the crews and boats to the port.
- Legal proceedings were initiated under Bangladesh’s fisheries and inland water transport regulations, and the fishermen remain in custody at the Mongla police station.
- The Indian High Commission in Dhaka and West Bengal Fisheries Department officials are in talks with Bangladeshi counterparts to secure a swift repatriation of the fishermen.
- Families have been assured of the fishermen’s safety but remain concerned about potential harassment based on previous reports of mistreatment under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.